Science Fair Judging Tips

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Montclair Elementary School Science Fair
TIPS FOR PRESENTING YOUR RESEARCH TO THE JUDGES

Practice presenting your research to others before you speak with the judges. Ask your audience for feedback: What things do you need to clarify? Emphasize? Highlight?

Be sure to communicate your enthusiasm for your work. Let the judges know how interested you are in what you investigated.

Try to relax. Speak to the judges like you would talk with your teacher at school.

Take a moment to think about the questions the judges pose. Answer as thoroughly and as clearly as possible.

WHAT KINDS OF QUESTIONS CAN YOU ANTICIPATE?

Background Knowledge:
Why did you decide to investigate this topic?
What is the purpose of your project?
What resources did you find useful in investigating this topic? Experimental Design:
What was your variable?
What variable did you intentionally change?
What response did you observe or measure?
What did you intentionally keep the same?
What groups did you compare the others against? Why?
How many times did you repeat the experiment?

Materials and Methods:
What materials did you use?
What procedures did you follow in performing your experiment?
If a mentor assisted you, in what ways was he or she helpful? Results and Conclusions:
What results did you find?
How did your findings relate to your original hypothesis?
What would you do differently next time?
What was the most important think you learned?
What additional experiments do you suggest?
What conclusions can you draw?
Who would be interested in your experiment?

PROJECT EVALUATION CRITERIA

BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE (0-9 points)

Key scientific concepts

Literature review

Evidence of procedural plan

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN (0-24 points)

Questions (objective)

Components

Hypothesis

Variables

Independent (IV)

Dependent (DV)

Constants

Control

Repeated Trials

Procedure (including materials)

RESULTS/CONCLUSION (0-21 points)

Choice of data display (table chart, graph, etc) is appropriate

Data displays reflect IV, DV, derived quantities, units

Data displays are titled and use appropriate scale

Discussion of data includes references to the data, a statement of how the data support or don't support the hypothesis

Major findings

Interpretations

Implications for further study

DISPLAY (0-9 points)

Attractive and ligible

Accurate

Consistent with science fair regulations

CLARITY: INTERVIEW AND RESEARCH PAPER (0-12 points)

Communicates scientific basis

Describes design principles

Explains data

Recognizes limitations

CREATIVE ABILITY/ORIGINALITY (0-25 points)

Experimental design reflects novel approach to the problem posed

Analysis and interpretation of data demonstrates logical thinking

Design and use of equipment shows creative approaches

WHAT KINDS OF QUESTIONS CAN YOU ANTICIPATE?
Background Knowledge: Why did you decide to investigate this topic? What is the purpose of your project? What resources did you find useful in investigating this topic?	Experimental Design: What was your variable? What variable did you intentionally change? What response did you observe or measure? What did you intentionally keep the same? What groups did you compare the others against? Why? How many times did you repeat the experiment?
Materials and Methods: What materials did you use? What procedures did you follow in performing your experiment? If a mentor assisted you, in what ways was he or she helpful?	Results and Conclusions: What results did you find? How did your findings relate to your original hypothesis? What would you do differently next time? What was the most important think you learned? What additional experiments do you suggest? What conclusions can you draw? Who would be interested in your experiment?